Midfielder Jonny Williams has revealed the background to his third loan move to Town from Crystal Palace.
The 21-year-old Welsh international scored once in 13 league appearances for Town in the final stages of last season and returned earlier in the current campaign, again scoring once in the five games he played before sustaining a groin injury in the 1-0 home win over Watford in November.
Williams said: "I only found out that I was going to be available for loan last Tuesday. The manager [Alan Pardew] wanted me to go and get some games somewhere and once that was the case coming back here was as a no-brainer.
"Ipswich was always going be top of the pile of options because I loved my time here previously.
"Whether I’ve been playing or not playing, injured or not injured, the lads here have been fantastic with me, the manager has shown he’s really wanted me and the fans have been great with me.
"I kept having chats with the manager here, he was always asking how my rehab was going and he mentioned that he might like to get me back here if I was able to get fit.
"I’m delighted to be back. Obviously there’s a rule about me not being able to play at Wembley if Ipswich are in the play-off final and that’s a bit annoying. But rules are rules.
"Let’s focus on getting in the top two first and if we do end up in the play-offs then I can still play in the semis. It’s not the end of the world.”
Williams, who was also believed to be interesting Wolves, Fulham and Watford, was sidelined for longer than he thought after being on the receiving end of a robust challenge from Hornets' Swedish international defender Joel Ekstrand, which only added to his frustration.
He added: "Originally I thought I’d be back in about six to eight weeks, but it’s ended up being about 20 to 21 weeks. It’s been a bit of a nightmare to say the least. I had a setback in January and then again in March.
"It’s not been as straightforward as I’d have liked, but the physio had told me that groin injuries are a bit of a pain, as I’ve found out.
"It’s just been a long rehab. I’ve seen the specialist a couple of times just to check it’s okay and they kept saying no op was needed. The setbacks have just been a case of over-stretching in training.
"It’s been frustrating. It’s the longest injury I’ve had — and I’ve had some bad ones — so it’s been tough. I’m just delighted to be back and have the chance to end the season on a high and be part of something special.
"I’ve seen the tackle back a few times, as you can probably imagine — it was badly timed to say the least. I knew straight away it was going to be a bad one.
"It’s a shame because I felt I was doing well in that game. It was great that we went on to win that one and that we’re in such a good place now.”